Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, Outdoor Power Equipment provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/270157
OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT w w w. o u t d o o r p o w e re q u i p m e n t . c o m 10 INDUSTRY NEWS OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT w w w. o u t d o o r p o w e re q u i p m e n t . c o m 10 INDUSTRY NEWS On Feb. 11, Echo Incorporated and Kubota Tractor Corporation announced a U.S. dealer alliance aimed at growing their combined sales within the commercial turf and consumer lawn and garden markets. As part of the alliance, Echo and Shindaiwa will become the preferred brands of handheld outdoor power equipment within the Kubota dealer network. The alliance also names Echo Bear Cat as a preferred brand of chippers, shredders, log splitters and wheeled trimmers within the Kubota dealer network. "There is a tremendous amount of synergy between our companies and brands," said Mike Best, Echo VP of sales & marketing. Echo Incorporated and Kubota Tractor Corporation both have parent companies headquartered in Japan, both are known for engineering and manufacturing professional-grade products, and both target commercial users and large-land owners. "By leveraging our common strengths, both companies will be well positioned for future growth in the months and years ahead," added Best. According to Todd Stucke, Kubota VP of agriculture and turf equipment, the Kubota dealer network includes more than 1,100 sales and service locations. "We are excited about the opportunity to bring Echo, Shindaiwa and Echo Bear Cat products into the Kubota dealer network," said Stucke. "These brands are well known in the market, and they allow Kubota dealers to position a complete lineup of products to commercial landscapers and homeowners alike." A series of joint sales and marketing programs will be rolled out in 2014, at which time Kubota dealers can begin expanding their customer product offerings to include Echo, Shindaiwa and Echo Bear Cat products. Echo Incorporated is a manufacturer of professional- grade outdoor power equipment for professional and homeowner use. The corporation markets its products primarily under the Echo, Shindaiwa and Echo Bear Cat brand names. The company is based in the Chicago suburbs. Visit www.echo-usa.com to learn more. Kubota Tractor Corporation is the U.S. marketer of Kubota-branded tractors up to 118-PTO horsepower, performance-matched implements, compact and utility- class construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, commercial turf products, and utility vehicles. The company is based in Torrance, Calif. For more information, visit www.kubota.com. Echo and Kubota form U.S. dealer alliance Jacobsen, a Charlotte, N.C.-based Textron Inc. company, announced Feb. 6 that it acquired the assets of Dixie Chopper, a Coatesville, Ind.-based manufacturer of zero-turn-radius mowers for the commercial and residential markets. "The addition of Dixie Chopper expands our reach into the consumer and commercial sectors, including municipalities, with a full range of zero-turn mowers known for their speed, quality and performance," said David Withers, president of Jacobsen. "It's really a win-win for both companies, and we look forward to building customer relationships together with Dixie Chopper." Known as "The World's Fastest Lawn Mower," Dixie Chopper mowers are capable of mowing up to 6.6 acres per hour. The company manufactures 11 models of zero-turn mowers, from the residential Zee 2 with a 21-horsepower Kawasaki engine and a 42-inch deck to the industrial-category XCaliber Twin with two 27-hp. Generac engines and a 74-inch deck. "We are excited to join the Jacobsen and Textron family of brands," said Dixie Chopper Chairman Art Evans. "Our line of zero-turn-radius mowers fit perfectly into the Jacobsen portfolio of products, and we look forward to working together to serve more customers. The joining of Dixie Chopper and Jacobsen offers an opportunity for Dixie Chopper to reach a larger market and expand brand awareness in the process." Jacobsen will continue to operate Dixie Chopper out of the company's Indiana facilities, and its existing management team will join Jacobsen. With the addition of Dixie Chopper, Jacobsen offers a complete product line of turf maintenance equipment, including zero-turn mowers, small- and large- area reel mowers, trim mowers, wide-area rotary mowers, aerators, sprayers, utility vehicles and renovation equipment. For more information, visit www.jacobsen.com. "By leveraging our common strengths, both companies will be well positioned for future growth in the months and years ahead." — Mike Best, Echo VP of sales & marketing Jacobsen acquires Dixie Chopper "We are excited to join the Jacobsen and Textron family of brands. Our line of zero-turn-radius mowers fit perfectly into the Jacobsen portfolio of products, and we look forward to working together to serve more customers. The joining of Dixie Chopper and Jacobsen offers an opportunity for Dixie Chopper to reach a larger market and expand brand awareness in the process." — Dixie Chopper Chairman Art Evans